Page 1 of 16

AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION BOARD

SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE

CLASS X

MODEL EXAMINATION PAPER 2023 AND ONWARDS

Biology Paper I

Time: 1 hour 10 minutes Marks: 40

y
nl
O
ar 3
ng
Le 02
ni
in ap B
& r2
ch l P -E
g e
ea de KU
r T Mo A

INSTRUCTIONS
fo

1. Read each question carefully.

2. Answer the questions on the separate answer sheet provided. DO NOT write your answers on the
question paper.
3. There are 100 answer numbers on the answer sheet. Use answer numbers 1 to 40 only.
4. In each question, there are four choices A, B, C, D. Choose ONE. On the answer grid, black
out the circle for your choice with a pencil as shown below.

Candidate’s Signature

5. If you want to change your answer, ERASE the first answer completely with a rubber, before
blacking out a new circle.
6. DO NOT write anything in the answer grid. The computer only records what is in the circles.

Biology Model Paper X

Page 2 of 16

1. In an animal cell, the phase of meiosis as illustrated in the given diagram is

A. anaphase of meiosis I.
B. telophase of meiosis I.

y
C. anaphase of meiosis II.

nl
D. telophase of meiosis II.

O
ar 3
2. The given diagram shows an event of meiosis.

ng
Le 02
ni
in ap B
& r2
ch l P -E
g e
ea de KU
r T Mo A

Chiasma

In the given diagram, chiasma formation takes place between

fo

A. sister chromatids.
B. non-sister chromatids.
C. unduplicated chromosomes.
D. non-homologous chromosomes.

3. The table below shows the mass of DNA in some cells of the human body.

Cell Type Mass of DNA in Cell (arbitrary unit)

Kidney 6.6
Liver 6.6
X 3.3

Cell X is MOST likely to be a

A. skin cell.
B. lung cell.
C. nerve cell.
D. sperm cell.

Biology Model Paper X

Page 3 of 16

4. Which of the given diagrams represents prophase II of meiosis?

A B C D

5. In a human nephron, the loop of Henle is adapted to

y
A. create a gradient of increased osmolarity in the medulla.

nl
B. transport maximum amount of filtrate to collecting duct.

O
C. secrete maximum number of hydrogen ions from blood.

ar 3
ng
Le 02
D. reabsorb large number of glucose molecules from filtrate.

ni
in ap B
6. & r2
During the process of urine formation in humans, blood pressure plays an important role.
ch l P -E
g e
ea de KU

This is because blood pressure helps to

r T Mo A

A. maintain salts in the filtrate.

B. form filtrate by the glomerulus.
C. secrete hydrogen ions in tubules.
D. reabsorb glucose in the loop of Henle.

7. In human nephron, the filtrate in the descending limb of loop of Henle becomes hypertonic
because of the removal of
fo

A. hydrogen ions.
B. water molecules.
C. glucose molecules.
D. sodium chloride ions.

8. Lithotripsy is a procedure that breaks large kidney stones into smaller ones by using

A. X-rays.
B. microwaves.
C. sound waves.
D. ultraviolet rays.

9. The similarity between the working of dialysis machine and human kidneys is that both

A. reabsorb proteins into blood.

B. remove macromolecules from blood.
C. maintain the mineral balance in blood.
D. change oxygenated blood to deoxygenated blood.

PLEASE TURN OVER THE PAGE

Biology Model Paper X
Page 4 of 16

10. The response produced by hormones takes more time than nerve impulse because hormones

A. are specific in their action.

B. are transported through blood.
C. contain small sized molecules.
D. are produced in small amounts.

11. The given diagram shows human brain.

y
nl
I

O
ar 3
ng
Le 02
II

ni
in ap B
& r2
ch l P -E
g e
The parts of brain represented by I and II are
ea de KU
r T Mo A

I II
A cerebellum pons
B cerebrum pons
C cerebellum medulla oblongata
D cerebrum medulla oblongata
fo

12. The given diagram shows change in the pupil of a person from state P to Q.

P Q

The state Q shows that the circular muscles of the iris have

A. relaxed as the person entered a poorly lit room.

B. relaxed as the person entered a brightly lit room.
C. contracted as the person entered a poorly lit room.
D. contracted as the person entered a brightly lit room.

Biology Model Paper X

Page 5 of 16

13. When Akram encounters a fighter bull, he experiences a sudden increase in his heartbeat. The
increase in heartbeat would

A. increase the rate of digestion.

B. decrease the air flow to his lungs.
C. convert maximum glucose to glycogen.
D. transfer glucose and oxygen to his muscles.

14. A motor neuron would transmit impulse from

A. eye to skin.
B. eye to brain.
C. spinal cord to skin.

y
D. spinal cord to brain.

nl
O
15. Which of the following diagrams shows the CORRECT pathway for a spinal reflex action when

ar 3
ng
the hand of an individual is pricked by a needle?

Le 02
ni
in ap B
& r2
ch l P -E

To Brain To Brain
g e
ea de KU
r T Mo A

Spinal
Cord Spinal
Cord

A B
fo

To Brain To Brain

Hand Hand
Spinal
Spinal
Cord
Cord

C D

PLEASE TURN OVER THE PAGE

Biology Model Paper X
Page 6 of 16

16. The given diagram represents reproduction in an organism.

In the given case, the offspring lack genetic variation because they

y
A. are limited in number.

nl
B. are produced asexually.

O
C. are unicellular organisms.

ar 3
ng
D. contain a single chromosome.

Le 02
ni
in ap B
17. & r2
During the process of spermatogenesis in male rabbit, a spermatogonium undergoes mitosis to
ch l P -E

produce
g e
ea de KU

A. sperms.
r T Mo A

B. spermatids.
C. primary spermatocytes.
D. secondary spermatocytes.

18. Which of the following is CORRECT about external fertilisation in animals?

A. Dry medium is a necessary condition.

B. Embryo is protected inside the parental body.
fo

C. The process takes place in most of the mammals.

D. Gametes are released in the surrounding environment.

19. Double fertilisation in plants results in the formation of

A. one haploid zygote.

B. two haploid zygotes.
C. one triploid endosperm.
D. two triploid endosperms.

20. Human immune deficiency virus (HIV) causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
in human beings by

A. increasing the pH of blood.

B. attacking the white blood cells.
C. promoting uncontrol division of cells.
D. decreasing the elasticity of blood vessels.

Biology Model Paper X

Page 7 of 16

21. The bone that belongs to the appendicular skeleton of human beings is

A. femur.
B. stapes.
C. sternum.
D. hyoid bone.

22. Which of the following is the condition of biceps during flexion and extension in the arm of
human beings?

The Condition of Biceps During

Flexion Extension

y
nl
A Relaxed Relaxed

O
B Contracted Relaxed

ar 3
ng
Le 02
C Relaxed Contracted

ni
in ap B
& r2
ch l P -E

D Contracted Contracted
g e
ea de KU

23. Osteoporosis mostly occurs in elderly women due to the deficiency of

r T Mo A

A. thyroxin.
B. oxytocin.
C. oestrogen.
D. calcitonin.

24. The given diagram shows genes on a pair of homologous chromosomes.

fo

Gene (P) for skin colour

Gene (Q) for hair colour

Chromosome I Chromosome II

Allele for gene P on chromosome II of the given homologous pair could be

A. P or p.
B. P or q.
C. P only.
D. Q only.

PLEASE TURN OVER THE PAGE

Biology Model Paper X
Page 8 of 16

25. Which of the following options exemplifies artificial selection?

A. Grapes are bred to produce large berry size.

B. Ladybirds are used to control aphids on crops.
C. Bacteria develop strains that are resistant to antibiotics.
D. Human gene is inserted into bacteria to produce insulin.

26. The number of different types of gametes formed from the genotype QqRr would be

A. 1
B. 2
C. 4
D. 8

y
nl
27. Red flower colour is completely dominant over white flower colour in a particular plant.

O
ar 3
ng
When a heterozygous red flower is crossed with a white flower, the possible percentage of

Le 02
offspring would be

ni
in ap B
& r2
ch l P -E

A. 100% red flowers.

g e
ea de KU

B. 75% red and 25% white flowers.

C. 50% red and 50% white flowers.
r T Mo A

D. 25% red and 75% white flowers.

28. The given diagram shows a genetic cross between two round pea seeds.

Key:
Parental generation
Round
fo

F1 generation Wrinkled
I

F2 generation

II

The genotypes of seed I and II would be

Genotype of I Genotype of II
A homozygous homozygous
B homozygous heterozygous
C heterozygous homozygous
D heterozygous heterozygous

Biology Model Paper X

Page 9 of 16

29. The given diagram illustrates the Mendel’s law of independent assortment.

DNA Crossing Q qQ q
replicates over
Q q Q Q q q occurs
X
r R r r R R
r r R R

Chiasma

y
nl
After the completion of meiosis, the types of gametes formed at X would be

O
ar 3
ng
Le 02
Q q

ni
in ap B
& r2 Q Q
ch l P -E
g e
ea de KU

r r
q q
r T Mo A

Q q
R R

R R
r r

A B
fo

Q q Q Q

r R R R

Q q q q

r r r
R

C D

PLEASE TURN OVER THE PAGE

Biology Model Paper X
Page 10 of 16

30. The function of fungi in an ecosystem is to

A. provide oxygen gas to producers.

B. return nutrients to the environment.
C. increase complexity of food chains.
D. decrease competition among consumers.

31. In the given food chain, the trophic level that contains the largest biomass is

y
nl
O
ar 3
ng
Le 02
A. rat.

ni
in ap B
B. owl. & r2
ch l P -E

C. grass.
g e
ea de KU

D. grasshopper.
r T Mo A

32. Barnacles are a type of sea animals that attach to whales. Barnacles cannot move on their own;
therefore, they use the whale to move around and find locations for food.

The type of animal association that BEST fits in the given situation is

A. predation.
B. parasitism.
fo

C. mutualism.
D. commensalism.

33. Which of the following events of nitrogen cycle decreases soil fertility by depleting nitrogen
from it?

Nitrogen
gas

A B C

Ammonia Fertilisers

Nitrates in
soil

Biology Model Paper X

Page 11 of 16

34. Which of the following animals fall in the category of both secondary and tertiary consumers in
the given food web?
Frog

Spider
Caterpillar

Grasshopper

Grass

A. Frog

y
nl
B. Spider

O
C. Caterpillar

ar 3
ng
D. Grasshopper

Le 02
ni
in ap B
35. & r2
Interferons are special proteins, produced by human cells, that
ch l P -E
g e
A. reduce pain.
ea de KU

B. cure thalassemia.
r T Mo A

C. dissolve blood clots.

D. limit the spread of viral infections.

36. The reactant and products of alcoholic fermentation by yeast are

Reactant Products
A sugar alcohol and carbon dioxide
fo

B sugar alcohol and water

C alcohol sugar and water
D alcohol carbon dioxide and water

37. The given diagram shows some steps of gene transplantation.

Bacterium
The DNA labelled as X in the given diagram represents a

A. plasmid DNA.
B. genomic DNA.
C. replicated DNA.
D. recombinant DNA.
PLEASE TURN OVER THE PAGE
Biology Model Paper X
Page 12 of 16

38. Which of the following CORRECTLY matches the drug with its source?

Drug Source of Drug

A Streptomycin Microorganism
B Morphine Animal
C Penicillin Plant
D Aspirin Mineral

39. Which of the following drugs are prescribed to relieve pain?

y
A. Antibiotics and heroin

nl
B. Caffeine and antibiotics

O
C. Anaesthetics and caffeine

ar 3
ng
D. Anaesthetics and analgesics

Le 02
ni
in ap B
40. Bacteriostatic antibiotics work BEST by & r2
ch l P -E
g e
ea de KU

A. killing bacteria.
B. inhibiting the growth of bacteria.
r T Mo A

C. developing resistance in bacteria.

D. producing immunity against bacteria.
fo

END OF PAPER
Biology Model Paper X
 Page 13 of 16

Biology Model Paper X

fo
r T Mo A
ea de KU
ch l P -E
in ap B
g e
& r2
Le 02
ar 3
ni
ng
O
nl
y
 Page 14 of 16

Biology Model Paper X

fo
r T Mo A
ea de KU
ch l P -E
in ap B
g e
& r2
Le 02
ar 3
ni
ng
O
nl
y
 Page 15 of 16

Biology Model Paper X

fo
r T Mo A
ea de KU
ch l P -E
in ap B
g e
& r2
Le 02
ar 3
ni
ng
O
nl
y
 Page 16 of 16

Biology Model Paper X

fo
r T Mo A
ea de KU
ch l P -E
in ap B
g e
& r2
Le 02
ar 3
ni
ng
O
nl
y